Welcome to Ferring Country Centre

Ferring Country Centre is situated in the small village of Ferring to the west of Worthing, amongst beautiful countryside. The Centre offers those that visit a unique, tranquil and calming interlude to their often hectic pace of life. You can meet the horses and other farm animals, walk our nature trail, visit our Garden Centre or enjoy our refreshments.

Ferring Country Centre is a local independent charity that provides meaningful training and work experience for people with learning difficulties. Our clients develop work and social skills by assisting us with the operation of the Riding Therapy Unit, our Garden Centre, Café, Small Animals Farm and Charity Shop. Clients are also able to participate in a number of community projects, including newspaper collection and gardening services. Our desire is that the work ethos applied at the Centre will enable our clients to move on to work in the community, voluntary or possibly paid employment.

The Centre was established in 1986 by a small group of parents who saw the need for an active workplace setting. We are strongly committed to these vulnerable adults gaining social inclusion within the community and to enable them to play a valued role in society.

The atmosphere at Ferring Country Centre is stimulating and empowers those that attend. We offer a work training environment that enables the following:

People are able to learn work skills in their chosen choice of setting

Communication, social and life skills are improved and developed

The foundations are laid to build confidence and self esteem

People realise their full potential and feel a real sense of achievement

A place where everyone that attends benefits from the therapeutic value of animal interventions and horticultural activities

An environment that is safe and supportive, yet focused on a workplace model.

Ferring Country Centre wins Disability Awareness Award

Our work in raising disability awareness was celebrated at an awards ceremony hosted by Arun Business Partnership, supported by Arun District Council’s Economic Development Unit

The award was sponsored and presented by F A Holland & Sons and is awarded to companies who can demonstrate how they treat everyone equally. It focuses on the companies beliefs and values behind the business and how they drive success, measures customer and staff satisfaction and the achievements and barriers it has overcome.

The Arun Business Partnership represents the interests of businesses across the Arun District.

Garden Centre

The Garden Centre grows a comprehensive range of top quality plants and vegetables, all for sale to the general public at very competitive prices. Our aim is to offer a superb range of quality plants, shrubs and specimen trees. Fruit and vegetables are available seasonally, many of which are grown naturally on our own site. Our clients assist in every aspect of production from seed to sale.

They develop horticultural skills and knowledge, coupled with retail experience. We also have a team who go out into the community and provide garden services on a one off or regular basis, providing services including; lawn mowing, garden clearance, planting etc. This team also takes care of our own grounds maintenance.

Riding Therapy Unit

We provide riding therapy lessons for over 600 adults and children, with learning and physical disabilities, every month. Riders come from the local community, special schools, other day centres and supported living to enjoy our riding facilities. Riding therapy is known to improve confidence, co-ordination, self-esteem and fitness; though above all of these benefits it is meant to be fun for those participating.

It is a unique establishment for riding and is well known and respected. We are the only Centre of our kind in the area specialising in all fields of riding for children and adults with any difficulty or disability. This includes; hacking, jumping, dressage and even driving in a carriage.

Brook Lane

A small team of clients, who have more complex needs and therefore require a higher level of support, have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities. These include running our Café and Small Animals Farm whilst participating in volunteering and community assignments.

The activities carried out are designed to help and encourage clients to manage their difficulties and to improve their social, communication and life skills and thus develop to their full potential.